The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-08
THE PROBABILITY OF CONGRESS
ABOLISHIN6
The Insterstate Commerce Commits
sion, Which is Conceded to Be n
Useless Body With Just
POWER ENOUGH TO DISTURB
TIE SHIPPING INTEREST
And to Play Havoc With Commerce
Comptroller Durhsm's War With
Alabama Commissioners.
ESPECIAL TO The APPEAL

law Tn winter. LD0Io e6oulh W 10 III
doubt that il will so amend it rs to do
away with the commission, which all
concede to be uselees body, vito just
enough power and uncertainty to keep
shipping in an unsteady condition and
to play havoc with commerce. The
denunciatioD OF the commission grows
with days, until IL Gems to not bave a
friend beyond those connected with 1t
and Senator Cullom, whot e genius in
vented it. The friends Of Senator
elect Reagan, OF Texas, say that that
gentleman, who had more to do with
bringing that law into existence than
any other sta esm an, intends to devote
his entire energies to doing away with
the commission, which he declares TO
be not only useless but curse, as the
country after Interpreting the law
must make calculations for the devia-
tions OF the commission before acting.
No one has any confidence in the
wisdom OF the declaration OF ina or
Cullom that az soon as the railroads
settle down to the actual operation Of
the law they will make rates easier fer
shippers ar d travellers, and the beau
ties OF the law will then be seen and
appreciated by the paIrons OF the
roads. People here think that the
railroads are determined to make the
law as oppressive as possible, with the
hope of securing he aid Of the common
people in breaking it down; and it
looks as il they had been pretty sue.
cessful 80 far. The railroads will make
the travel tariffs as heavy and irksome
to Congressman as possible. No one
here doubts that perfect understand
ing has besn reached bttween the va
rious railroads, and that they will car
ry the point sime d at.
DURHAM's WAR With ALABAMA D.s'
TRICTs.
The esders of the APPEAL will
doubtless have followed more or lees
closely the progress of the war which
First Comptroller Durham has been
vaying upon the commissioners in the
Alabama districts in regard to the in
iquitous system Of fee making and fee
taking, which has reached such high
state Ct perfection in those districte.
Since they cannot get the Cam ptroller
to pass upon their accounts, the COM
missioners, through their attorney,
are busily engaged in trying to show
how bitter and vindictive warfare Is
being carried on between the Dtpart-
ment of Justice and First Comptroll.
er's office, and how Judge Durham in
q divine paroxysm OF supererogation
placed his judgment, which was only
based upon the accounts which w-re
in bis office, over and above the tbre q
reports,ot special examiners of the De-
partment Of Justice who had made an
examination right on the spot. Since
30 much stress is laid upon these re-
ports of examiners, it may be worth
while to know tide origin and history
of them.
Some time In the latter part Of 1885,
the First Comptroller's Office intimated
to the Department OF Justice that the
Alabama district might be visited
with advantage bv some one of its ex-
aminers. Mr.. johnson, OF the Comp
trollei's office, in speaking with the
general agent OF the Department oil
Justice on this subject, represented
that the situation in Alabama was
such as would r. quire the services OF
no ordinary examiner, and that an ex-
animation conducted by an mex
perienced or new hand, unless his
natural qualifications were exception
al, would result in no good and when
Mr.. Chalmers, then but recently APP
pointed to the service, was mentioned
as the only man available at that time,
Mr.. johnson made pecial reference
by name to two other txaminers, and
inquired tiCularly as to whether
one OF them might not be available
at some future time, suggesting that
thers was no. special urgency for the
examination 10 be made at once. II
seems, however, that Mr.. Chalmers,
being then on wal ing orders, was
designated to make the examination
Mr.. Johnson, belonging to an
other department., did not, o.
course, feel like taking the
liberty of saying plainly that
Mr.. Chslmers, with. his present expe
rince and qualifications in such mat
tiers, would not accomplish anything
by his examination; but it is fac
that the Comptroller's Office was NO
surprised that Mr.. Chalmers in hi
report failed 10 develop the true situa
ton GO seen through the medium o
the accounts rendered. Indeed, thI
surprise would have been to see hin
make report fully describing the sit
uation, for this reason. In most dis
tricts there are persons eager ant
anxious to complain to examiner
about the oppressive and imprope
doings commissioners, deputy mar
ehals, ttc., but in Alabama, as appear
from the accounts, every one con
neOted with the transaction is bene
fited in such way as to cause the at
most good feeling all around. Tb,
eame parties figure in the account
wear after year in every conceivable
capscity-the same persons being, in
terchangably, prisoner and guard, wit
ness and defendant, principal ant
surety, yiolator of the law and vindi
Gator of il; and when the commission
ers are pressed by the Comptroller b
explain why the law has no terro
Tor these old time defendants, the,
answer that the judge is a tende
hearted man bat that the law havit
been violated, they (the commission
ere) ought not to be held responsible
for the ieniency of the court in failiD
to punish. 1t can readily be seel
why such district would require tn
services of most skillful examiner Il
develop the true inwardness Of thing
since the parties have no desire {
"peach" on each olher and thereb
break mp their business.
When, the efore, the Oomptrolle
went ahead dealing with the account
from that State without reference {
Mr.. Chslmers's report, the claimant
and their attorneys at once attempte
to raise the cry of persecution, an
endeayorad to make it appear tbs
the Comptroller was insulting the d.
partment Of Justice by impeschin
the integrity of one of its officer
Such mea6iug could not, of cours
be attached to the action OF th
Comptroller, though Examiner Cha
mers in his tecond report wrote as
he felt aggrisved by the course OF 10
Comptroller's Office, and was dete